How Strictly’s Popular Dancers have Wound Up In Debt

For audiences tuning into BBC’s megahit Strictly Come Dancing, they would be best in presuming that its stars must be making a significant fortune.

Whether it be the tireless hours of training, or being an on-screen component for weeks on end, the program’s expert dancers have actually helped make the series a captivating watch throughout the fall months.

However, while it has been assumed that Strictly specialists need to make a pretty cent, and years of success, through their time on the show, for a lot of it’s a wholly different story.

Pros who have bid farewell to the Strictly dancefloor in current years have shared their struggles with piling financial obligations and cash woes, with some even facing the prospect of losing their homes.

Recently, Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff become the current stars to be struck by the infamous ‘Strictly curse’ after their 12-year romance ended in heartbreak. MailOnline then exposed it was the extreme financial difficulties they had actually recently experienced are thought to have actually lagged their split.

MailOnline peels back the glitter behind Strictly stars’ incomes to expose the fact about how for lots of, the money stops as soon as the ballroom lights go dark …

Kristina Rihanoff

How Strictly’s popular dancers have wound up in debt – as Kristina Rihanoff’s monetary troubles are blamed for split from Ben Cohen (imagined on the show in 2013)

Kristina formerly appeared on Strictly as a professional from 2008 to 2015, making headings when she started a love with her celebrity partner Ben Cohen.

However, in 2015, the couple shared fears that they might lose their home after being hit by cash issues, with Ben laying bare their monetary woes in court.

The degree of the couple’s struggles were laid bare in unusual scenarios – throughout a court appearance last September when Kristina, 47, was captured driving without insurance coverage.

Giving proof during the case, England World Cup winning rugby star Ben, 46, admitted he had mishandled the handling of their automobile insurance coverage and told how he was ‘fighting to save his relationship and home’.

A pal of the couple informed the Mail he said: ‘The previous 6 months have actually been hell for them and it has actually torn the love they had apart. For the sake of their household, they have selected to move forward as different people.

‘Those near to them who know them as a couple had actually hoped they would have the ability to work things out but for now it’s over and it appears like there’s no going back.’

The couple were entrusted to crippling debts after they tilled every cent they had into a yoga studio which plunged into crisis throughout the Covid pandemic.

In a tortuously frank admission Ben informed the court: ‘I get up every day and I battle not to lose whatever – to lose my cars and trucks and my house and my relationship. I’m so overdrawn.’

Last year the couple shared worries that they might lose their home after being struck by cash issues, with Ben laying bare their financial woes in court (envisioned in 2021)

When questioned about the stress on his and Kristina’s relationship, he stated: ‘We’re still cohabiting. We’re in it economically.

‘We stay in business together so the issue is that we opened business before Covid and we got the worst severities of it and in all honestly this is just another issue for me to handle.

‘I have actually got charge card that are overdrawn. I’m overdrawn in both accounts. We have got a service debt because of Covid. It’s just another problem.’

The business was listed to be compulsorily struck off on December 27, 2022, however the action was suspended 9 days later and stopped on April 28, 2023.

Records also reveal that a food services business called Soo Greens Ltd which is 100 per cent owned by Soo Yoga Group Ltd was successfully ₤ 6,633 in the red, considering future liabilities, in its last accounts for the duration ending on July 31, 2020.

The company’s represent the year ending in July 2021 have still not been submitted and are now almost 29 months past due.

Another business called Soo Purple Mountain Ltd which is likewise owned by the Soo Yoga Group, was established in December 2021 and liquified by a voluntary strike off in February this year without ever submitting accounts.

A 4th company called Soo Group Ltd which was half owned by Cohen and half owned by three other individuals was also integrated and willingly struck off on the same dates.

A 5th company called Yoga Wellbeing which is 100 percent owned by Rihanoff was ₤ 5,041 at a loss, taking into consideration future liabilities, at the end of July 2020. Its accounts are likewise nearly 29 months overdue, according to Companies House records.

AJ Pritchard

AJ initially increased to fame as a candidate on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the show just months before the Covid pandemic (imagined with Saffron Barker in 2019)

But AJ has since clarify the money problems some Strictly stars can face, and shared that he was plunged into debt when his dance tour was cancelled in 2020

AJ initially rose to popularity as an entrant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the program just months before the Covid pandemic.

While the star had formerly wanted to kickstart a new age of dance success by leaving the show, the pandemic required him to cancel his planned dance trip, plunging himself and bro Curtis into financial obligation.

Speaking with MailOnline, AJ clarified the money problems some Strictly stars can deal with after leaving the show.

He stated: ‘We had a business where we were running our own tour and the trip was cut short. We paid all of our dancers because, personally, I seemed like that was the ideal thing to do. We ended up with a VAT expense which came out of our own pocket.

‘We didn’t earn money, myself or Curtis, but we paid all of our dancers. It’s a difficult decision to be made, but that’s what it is when you are running your own company.

‘They definitely did value it. I possibly didn’t appreciate the financial obligation that I was left in however, hey, it’s a choice that was made.’

AJ stated it is hard when a lot of his pals believe he’s a ‘millionaire’ after starring on Strictly, however, he explained that after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he makes is nowhere near that.

The dancer said: ‘I think a great deal of individuals expect you to go on to Strictly or Love Island and immediately be a millionaire. Once you have actually paid your tax and your VAT, and if you’re a restricted company, that’s not even close.

‘I think transparency is a favorable thing in this day and age, however many people don’t really wish to discuss their financial resources.

‘And I think people are intrigued by cash. People like to see numbers and like to see good things, and a lot of times you need to live within your own methods.’

After leaving programs such as Strictly and Love Island, Curtis and AJ were tossed into a variety of huge cash offers and AJ states some people have no idea how to handle that type of sum of money.

Former I’m A Celebrity star AJ exposed he and Curtis ‘desire to make a distinction’ and have actually established ‘utilizing our own cash’ a monetary investment firm called FINT to help to ‘educate’ people.

AJ ended up being extremely open about how often the TV reservations and photoshoots can all of a sudden stop and stars have to learn how to ‘adjust’ their career.

AJ stated it is hard when a great deal of his pals think he’s a ‘millionaire’ after starring on Strictly, as after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he earns is nowhere near that

He continued: ‘It’s actually tough I believe in our industry, the show business and a great deal of other markets right now due to the fact that a great deal of individuals are being laid off. It does use your mental health if you don’t have that next job.

‘Myself and Curtis have invested money, from my very first salary on Strictly I’ve always had that money invested into different portfolios. Therefore, if I didn’t have a task in six months time, I do have cash there that I can draw on if I require it.

‘And at the end of the day, there are constantly tasks out there. It’s just in some cases having to change what it is you think you are going to do and adapt a little bit. Adapting is hard however you do need to adapt in some cases.

‘It is essential that people enter into these huge programs that they’re taking pleasure in however they have a profession behind them like myself and Curt. We’re both professional dancers, we can go all over the world and teach.’

Every day, individuals are dealing with the expense of living crisis and AJ admitted he is no various and is routinely snapped back into the ‘real life’ as he’s observed the dramatic boost in everyday items.

He described: ‘Each and every single day I’m reminded truth. I pulled up at the fuel pump today and the diesel was 10p more pricey due to decisions that have been made much greater up than my income. That’s the real world.

‘I resembled, ‘What 10p more costly from the other day to today’, like that’s crazy. I believe people forget, the expense of living and inflation’s gone up.

‘Even when inflation comes down, it doesn’t suggest that it goes back to what it was. Life is going to be tough for a lot of people this year and I do not think it’s going to get any simpler.’

Robin Windsor

Despite pulling in an excellent ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor unfortunately passed away with just ₤ 879 in his business’s business account

Despite drawing in an impressive ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor tragically died with just ₤ 879 in his company’s company account.

The dancer was discovered dead in a London hotel in February in 2015, and in the wake of his passing it was revealed his company had actually not traded for a long time and according to Companies House Records was dealing with an ‘active proposal’ to be struck off.

The company Happy Feet Creative Limited was owed practically ₤ 5,000 the last time it filed accounts, but owed creditors ₤ 15,000, suggesting it was ₤ 8,350 in the red.

At the height of his celeb in 2015 and 2016 he held more than ₤ 23,000 in the business and advanced himself ₤ 35,000 from the business, which was repaid.

The company had carried revenues from a ‘large variety of agreements to provide performing arts services within the media market’, documents stated.

In the months prior to his death, Robin had actually been dealing with a Fred Olsen Cruise – along with fellow Strictly expert Gordana Grandosek Whiddon – and posted images of himself when the boat docked in South Africa.

Robin previously informed how he was paid ₤ 100,000 a year during his time on Strictly which concerned an end after the 12th series in 2014.

The dancer was found dead in a London hotel in February, and in the wake of his passing it was exposed his firm had actually not traded for some time (visualized on the show in 2013)

He also remembered one time he made ‘silly cash’, telling This Is Money: ‘My dance partner and I were once paid ₤ 10,000 each to stay in a luxury resort in Mauritius for a week and dance the cha-cha-cha at an event. Our dance lasted two minutes.’

He kept in mind in September 2022 that the ‘finest’ year of his financial life was 2010, ‘my very first year on Strictly Come Dancing’.

He said: ‘Suddenly, I was generating income I had actually just dreamt about. I most likely made about ₤ 100,000 that year – not just from Strictly however from work off the back of the program such as the trip and personal efficiencies.

‘When you’re on prime-time TV, everybody wants a little piece of you.’

Discussing his Strictly exit, Robin stated he ended up being so ‘bitter’ about not being permitted to return that he could not bear to watch it, and he entered into a ‘consistent decline’ after leaving the program.

Graziano Di Prima

Graziano was considerably sacked by managers last year following claims of gross misconduct towards his previous superstar partner Zara McDermott

Following his departure from the program, Graziano tried to cash on his looks on the show, with customised video messages on Cameo

Graziano was when considered a preferred amongst Strictly fans, however last year he was drastically sacked by bosses following claims of gross misconduct towards his former celeb partner Zara McDermott.

The dancer later on verified and regretted his actions against Zara.

Addressing his exit from the show, a ‘ravaged’ Di Prima wrote on Instagram: ‘I deeply regret the occasions that caused my departure from Strictly.

Strictly Come Dancing abundant list: The professional dancers waltzing all the way to the bank after earning MILLIONS thanks to the show

‘My intense enthusiasm and determination to win might have affected my training program.

‘While appreciating the BBC HR procedure, I acknowledge it’s only right for the sake of the program that I step away. I am saddened that I wasn’t allowed to use a quote to the online newspaper article, and I take on board the sensitivity of the circumstance.

‘There’s more to this story that I am unable to talk about at this time, however I am committed to being strong for my household and buddies. I want the Strictly family absolutely nothing but success in the future.’

Following his departure from the show, Graziano attempted to cash on his appearances on the show, with customised video messages on Cameo.

The dancer charged $100 (₤ 78) for a video message, and continued to refer to himself as a ‘expert dancer on Strictly’ on his profile.

And the stars who have cashed in on their Strictly success …

Oti Mabuse

For many fans, Oti is considered among Strictly’s most effective exports, with the dancer crowned for two years in a row, in 2019 and 2020

Since then, she has actually appeared as a judge on Dancing On Ice, and also made a reported ₤ 200,000 charge for her stint on I’m A Star Get Me Out Of Here! in 2015

For numerous fans, Oti is considered one of Strictly’s most successful exports, with the dancer crowned series champion for 2 years in a row, in 2019 and 2020.

The dancer was reported to be on a ₤ 410,000 wage before she left the program in 2022, and given that her exit has collected a huge fortune with a string of successful TV gigs.

Ever since, she has actually appeared as a judge on Dancing On Ice, and was likewise a panellist on The Masked Dancer, and BBC’s The Greatest Dancer, contributing to a rumoured fortune of more than ₤ 1.4 million.

Before signing up with the Strictly lineup, Oti also worked as an expert dancer on Strictly’s German equivalent, Let’s Dance.

Oti is noted as a director of Pure Mabuse Limited, which she established with her hubby Marius Iepure, which was established in February 2017, and has listed possessions of ₤ 510,953, according to its most recent accounts.

In 2022, Oti likewise signed a big-money deal to team up with Bravissimo on a ‘self-confidence enhancing’ underwear range, and she and partner Marius likewise share a ₤ 590,000 London estate.

Between them, Oti and Marius hold ₤ 750,000 of possessions in four personal business, which they co-own. including the property company, Lionshead, which notched up ₤ 110,582 in properties since last year.

And Oti has actually only contributed to her fortune in current months by appearing on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! where she was supposedly paid a ₤ 200,000 fee.

Kevin Clifton

Kevin Clifton was crowned Strictly champ in 2018 with Stacey Dooley, and after leaving the show in 2020, has moneyed in with a string of stage functions

However, the dancer has actually previously shared that it hasn’t always been easy, revealing in 2019 that he utilized to oversleep his vehicle while trying to kickstart his performing career

Since leaving Strictly in 2020, Kevin Clifton has actually required to the phase, carrying out in Strictly Ballroom, Rock of Ages and War of the Worlds.

His firm Supreme Dance stated ₤ 104,993 in its newest properties with ₤ 42,234 staying after expenses.

However, the dancer has actually formerly shared that it hasn’t always been simple, exposing in 2019 that he used to oversleep his cars and truck while attempting to start his performing profession, while managing it with a workplace task.

Speaking on his podcast The Kevin Clifton Show, he stated: ‘If there’s no one there, I’ll oversleep my vehicle and after that I can afford 2 of my dance lessons tomorrow.

‘I invested loads of time sleeping in my automobile – essentially living out of my automobile – and having no work. It’s not all glamour. People think we live these easy, showbiz, glamorous lives and it’s not like that.

‘There’s been times where I was simply getting fired from task after job – regular workplace tasks, simply trying to sustain my dancer career.

‘I was basically looking in my wallet going, I’ve just been fired from another job. I’ve got four lessons tomorrow; I currently can’t spend for two of them.

‘I’m going to have to blag it with the instructor and state,” Oh, there’s been an issue at the bank. I’m going to have to offer you the cash on my next lesson.” James and Ola Jordan

Business: James and Ola Jordan have capitalized their joint weight loss recently, setting up a fitness site called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 monthly to subscribe

James Jordan left Strictly in 2013 with his partner Ola doing the same two years lateer.

James has appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, returned a couple of years later on for the All Stars version and won Dancing On Ice in 2019.

The couple have actually cashed in on their joint weight-loss recently, establishing a physical fitness site called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 monthly to subscribe.

The pair sold their Kent mansion for ₤ 2.5 million earlier this year and have actually because downsized to a home more ‘suitable’ for their daughter Ella.

Much of their earnings is funnelled through their firm James and Ola Dance Academy which most just recently had ₤ 774,023 in properties and ₤ 465,002 after expenses.

They make additional money by selling signed pictures for ₤ 9.50 while Ola uses dance lessons to fans at ₤ 300 a pop.

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC